The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-02
The Soldiers Monument.

To the Editor Of the Press:
am one of those who voted last year to
give the site where the old city hall now
stands for soldiers monument, but while
not opposed to the removal of the building,
am convinced that it is not a suitable place
for the monument, and shall vote the
other way next time The associations in
separately connected with such structure, it
seems to me, demand for it far different
location. Market Square would be a. sorry
place for the contemplatiye moods Of those
the heroic deeds of whose relatives and
friends it is intended to commemorate. These
will prefer the quiet and seclusion which a
location far removed from the din and hurly-
burly of business, the intrusion of strangers
and the jostle of hundreds of comparatively
disinterested people constantly passing and
repassing, wonld give, and when covered
with the grim and dust of years, that will
surely settle upon it in that location, and
those pests OF every city where they live, the
English sparrows, have bedaubed it with
their filth and decorated its every nook and
corner with old rags, strings and weeds of
which they build their homes, what pleasure
could it give TO the admirer of architectural
beauties, if it should chance to have any.
This latter consideration is one of some i'm
portance, as it will be largely the attractive
ness of its proportions that will invite the at
tentl0n OF strangers and citizens
Located in "Deering Park" which in the
near future is to be the place of resort of
men, women and children residents and
otherwise, for recreation and outdoor enjoy
ments, these features would count for all
they were worth. The minds of visitors
there would not be distracted with the cares
of business, but would be free to enjoy what
ever pleasure might come from leisurely OBJ
servation; besides it would form an addi-
tiOnal attraction to the park itself which
would induce much larger number of our
citizens and of strangers to visit, and thus
enjoy the natural beauties of the place, than
have been accustomed to do So One writer
in favor of the Market Square site, refer to
the monuments in European cities, and asks,
who should not Americans do as they do there.
Why should they? The monuments in those
cities were mostly erected to perpetuate the
name and deeds Of kings and potentates, or
Of some great general; not on accouat of any
respect for the common people, and it is fit
ting that they should be placed near the seat
of their power. The people never destroy
monuments raised to their honor. He also
says, ut Is not a bad plan to follow in the
wake of other cities" and Instances the re-
moval of ."Scollay's Building" in Boston.
That building, as is well known, was re-
moved to make more room for business, but
Boston's soldiers monument was placed on
the Common, which corresponds in degree
to our ''Deering Park" and we may well
follow in their wake" in this respect.
Such structure would be out of place in
Market Square, and would soon come to be
of as little account to our citizens as the old
market house is now, and as little noticed as
are the statues that are placed in the squaps
of some cities, whose presence, / venture to
say, is seldom realized in those busy marts
of trade, except as they obstruct the bust
ness avenues of the city. Let not our sol
diers' monument be consigned to such fate.